The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-01-13

was recently in small Southern vii
lagc; the county was Prohibition,
and of the four stores two were bur
rooms, or whiskcy shops. 1t was no
common sight to see staggering men and
crowds going and coming from these
shops. On court days, for the county
court house was there, many men instead
Of eating good wholesome food for din
ner, would go to the bar and drink their
dinner. Just think Il dinner Of this vile
burning poison; were they fit men TO
Judge their fellow men? thousands
times no. But while l sojourncd at this
place, | knew three bright promising lit
tie boys. aged four, five and six. Then
thore were two others, little ones, scvcn
months and two years, each having n
nurse, young cOlorcd girls. One day at
dinner we were mt the hotel, the Oldest
boy said Mama, Mr.. Barber-shop man,
(thc proprietor of the barroom also cut
hair called us and gave us all some cider.
Liz took Clyde and the baby too, and he
madc every one drink even the little baby.
The Mama said, | will punish you and
your brother for going. ] strictly for
badc it. The little boy said Liz, ltho
oldest nurse said come on, your ma
won't care for sweet cider, and Mrs. Max
lets MIR. Walter go. Mr.. and Mrs. Max
were all present; and I'll not forget the
look of horror these words brought to
terian minister, Walter, tboir ono little
lamb; he turned to his wife and said,
Edna is this true; do you let Walter 90
to this drink shop? She replied, he
went there to get his hair cut, and brother
i,,n 81,
harm to come of it. He said, why don't
you see even the baby is not too Young.
The man knows his part we'll Ho begins
with the tender young babe, bringing
them up, cultivating q taste for it, bait
ing them for his own aim. | am Mortified
that i'll this fair village there is such vile,
black crime, and our beautiful boy, Oh!
shuddor; L wished to say when he be-
came man, Walter has never set foot
IN dram shop, and now cannot, little
did dream of this, so young. Why,
Ia let his hair grow long upon his shOul-
ders, and Id punish him severely il he
knew 1t was whisky shop. Edna, | am
surprised at you, his mother, nearest to
INN on earth; You who should be ever SO
wary and watchful of this evil. I am
deeply stirred within me. Walter, never
set foot IN this mans shop again, and
never taste or take any thing Lr offers
yon:. If | hear Of you doing SO, / shall
punish you severely. The other two
mothers showed equal distress for their
boys. The mother of the babe especially,
to think, ns the good minister said he
was bringing up even tho babies to love
his drink. Her father drank away reason
and life, under this same man s influence,
and her only brother on the verge of
manhood; Oh! she trcmblcs to think
what will be his fate. Is this litful gaicty,
this bright bloom upon his young face,
the bloom and galety of youth? She
trcmblcS and prays God it may he, and
not the fatal poisoning bloom and gaicty
of strong drink. Edna, God watch and
guide your fair boy. And the widowed
mother OF the other two, the two oldest,
may she never experience the deep sor-
row of seeing her boys Incorporate. OH
village, Oh! county, Danish alcohol from
your land, from your people, and you
Danish these fearful crimes that arc now
racliing you with deep distress, then you
will sec progress and prosperity, where
now is dilapidution and progressive
ness. Whisky is your curse; trcmblc
for your children, trcmblc for their
future. 30 you recognize this true pic
turc? 1t is as it really occurred Georgia
Temperance Advocate.